Updated January 21, 2012 19:07:23
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The Federal Opposition has dismissed speculation its asylum seeker policy will damage relations with Indonesia.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is quoted in newspapers today as saying he would block all boats from reaching Australian shores and send them back to where they came from.
Immigration spokesman Scott Morrison says that is in line with the actions of the Howard government.
He says returning boats to Indonesia would not harm diplomatic relations.
"No, I think what is important is we have to restore the relationship with Indonesia," he said.
"We have a relationship with Indonesia that has literally been trashed by this Government, most significantly through their abysmal performance on the live cattle trade."
Mr Morrison said "safety considerations" would be the only barrier to rejecting asylum seeker boats, but he would not elaborate.
"Well there's a chain of command that will always be followed in these circumstances, but at the end of the day it's a matter of government policy and the government policy will be - under a Tony Abbott government - to turn boats back where those circumstances permit," he said.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the Opposition's plan to have the Navy turn back boats will put lives at risk.
She says the approach is reckless towards asylum seekers and defence personnel.
"It's been absolutely clear from the statements of senior officers in Navy that this is a dangerous and reckless approach that puts young Australians at risk and my view is a very clear one: turning a boat around is not worth losing an Australian life," she said.
Opposition defends Abbott's asylum comments - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
